Five Nations in the Next Three Months!

“And God, we pray for hundreds of people to show up tonight – bring in people who need to meet You and hear about Your love for them…”

I raised my head, looked up at my daughter across the circle of volunteers in the semi-dark room as she spoke confidently – doors were scheduled to open in just a few minutes and we had come together for a final minute of prayer before it all began.

Nearby, I noticed a friend of mine lift his head briefly. I wouldn’t know it until he told me after the show, but in his head, he was thinking, “That’s a great prayer, but there’s NO WAY we’re going to see hundreds of people show up tonight…”

To be fair, his skepticism was not entirely unfounded. Tonight’s concert, one of our last before the end of the year, had been scheduled for a weeknight in the middle of one of the biggest Christmas shopping weeks of the year. People had items to purchase, things to do, and crammed family schedules to juggle.

I glanced from the stage area to the lobby – lots of candles, tables piled with baked goods and garnished with greenery, and plenty of soft, indirect lighting. This was our annual “thank you” event for our hometown community, and we had been working hard for several days to make it special for our guests.

And now, with moments left before the doors opened, I found myself asking a simple question:

Whose idea had it been to hold this particular event on one of the busiest shopping nights of the year, anyway?

Oh yeah, ours.

As our small circle finished talking and began to disperse, I glanced down up at my phone. Two minutes till the doors were scheduled to open.

I started moving slowly towards the lobby and found myself alone for a moment – just long enough to take a deep breath.

And in that instant, for whatever reason, I saw clearly the war that had been raging in the back of my mind without me even being fully aware of it:

The battle between trusting God and allowing my fear of the unknown to cripple me.

The battle between the voice of my fear saying “this is going to be so embarrassing if nobody shows up – we’re going to look so stupid,” and the voice of faith saying, “I believe God led us here, and I believe He’s going to move in a powerful way.”

Still walking slowly toward the doors of the venue, I actually, physically lifted my head and looked up at the ceiling.

“God, this is yours. Please bring in many people who need to experience the love of Jesus, and please impact the lives of everyone who comes through the door – we pray for a night that people will remember forever.”

And in that moment, I felt a little bit like I was walking out of a thick, sticky fog and into a clear, open space – like I had crossed over from turmoil to peace. I felt God, and I somehow I knew that He had heard us and everything was going to be okay.

Minutes later, the doors opened and people began to arrive.

And they just kept coming until hundreds of people filled the venue.

We performed, we laughed together with our guests, and then we shared the love of Jesus – the earth-shaking, life-transforming, awe-inspiring love of Jesus that can change any life and any situation.

And in the midst of the busiest, craziest shopping season of the year, in a dimly lit room with hundreds of our friends, God met us – like a “holy hush” in the middle of the chaos.

We got a little glimpse of the holy God who loved us enough to come to us in the dirt of a stable and in the middle of our brokenness.

And when it was time, many people responded to His love – dozens of hands rose, saying “Yes” to Jesus, and lives were changed forever.

And this is why we do what we do.

It was a night we won’t forget, and God set it all in motion by calming my heart in the midst of real turmoil.

“Do not be anxious about anything,” says Philippians 4:6-7, “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I had experienced the truth of this scripture at the beginning of the evening – God had brought peace to my mind, and then moved in a powerful way – simply because He loves us.

It was a meaningful end to 2018, and a great reminder for the year to come – whatever we’re facing in 2019, let’s give it to Jesus and watch Him settle our hearts and move in wonderful new ways.

Since 2012, by the grace of God, we’ve shared the love of Jesus in 28 nations and have seen tens of thousands of people respond. Since April of 2017, we’ve had the privilege of watching thousands respond to Jesus in twelve nations and territories on five continents – we’ve just finished up a packed few months of events in Israel, the West Bank, France, Belize, Mexico and across the American South and Midwest. We’re scheduled to perform a few more times in the United States this month, and then in the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Brunei, the Philippines, and Thailand.

THANK YOU for being part of the team – for helping us share the love of Jesus worldwide. Our vision is to follow God’s leading and help reach as many nations and people as we can with the message of Jesus, and your partnership helps us reach the world together. If you’d like to help, click HERE to partner financially and follow us on FACEBOOK for daily prayer updates from the field.